Q&A: Some vote early, others see magic in Election Day

Sunday Conversation

Published 5:30 am, Sunday, October 22, 2006

Early voting for the Nov. 7 election starts Monday and runs through Nov. 3. David Beirne, the director of public affairs for the Harris County Clerk's Office, which administers county and state elections, spoke to Houston Chronicle political writer Kristen Mack about the history and increasing popularity of early voting.

Q: About one third of Harris County voters vote early. When did Texas begin early voting?

A: In the early 1990s. It's increased steadily over time, and it's continued to increase as a percentage of all turnout. During the 2004 election, 37.8 percent cast ballots during early voting in Harris County. That caught us off guard. More people are taking advantage of it. We are seeing more of a move toward convenience voting.

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Q: What type of person likes to vote early?

A: They are more likely to be nontraditional voters, younger people, professionals who take advantage of the flexible hours. They don't have to worry about going to an assigned location, so they stop off along their way to or from work.

Q: So who waits until Election Day to go to the ballot box?

A: Those are traditional voters who enjoy the Election Day experience. There's something about the magic of Election Day and voting with people from their community and their neighborhood. Traditionally more Democrats vote on Election Day and more Republicans vote early.

Q: Why do you think that is?

A: Senior voters are a little more conservative, and they tend to vote early. And traditional grass-roots efforts to get people to the polls on Election Day lend themselves to the Democratic Party.

Q: How do candidates and parties incorporate early voting into their get-out-the-vote efforts?

A: More and more, they are taking advantage of it. They hold events associated around early voting, and they bus voters from campaign events. That's the change in strategy.

I'm not sure if campaigns enjoy it or not. But it's more controllable, and candidates can make sure they have volunteers to work the polls. Election Day is more of a logistical nightmare.